Self-adjusting feed roll



NOV. 29, 1932. M BARBER 1,889,524

' SELF ADJUSTING FEED ROLL Filed Dec. 19. 1931 A ATTORNEYS Patented Nov.29, 1932 nowann mBAnnEa-or IEAWCAT-UCK, CONNECTICUT,-ASSIGNOR To ,0. 1a.oorrnnni. &. 1 sons oomrm, or WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND, A, CORPORATION orDELAWARE I SELF-ADJUSTING FEED ROLL Application filed December 19, 1931.Serial No. s2',0e5. V

The object of my invention to provide a self-adjusting feed rollof novelconstruction, which feed roll is especially adapted for coaction withanother roll to -feed paper or other fabric, the adjustability of one ofthe feedrolls permitting the even feeding of the material though itshould vary in thickness or have'any otherinequalities therein.

A further Object of my invention is to provide a. self-adjusting 'fe'edroll comprising a shaft and one or more feedroller units adapted'to beadjustably positioned along the shaft according to varied requirements.

7 My invention consists generally in a roller unit comprising a fixedcollar, a slidable collar and an interposed self-adjusting or floatingannular roller, the slidable collar carrying tensionmeans acting onthelfixedcollar to clampthe. roller between the collars with an adjusteddegree of friction, as required.

My invention also includes means for preventing rotative movement of theroller with respect to its shaft and collars where such a feature isdesired.

Practical embodiments of my invention are represented in theaccompanying drawing in which: j

Fig. 1 represents one form of my feed rol- Qler unit, one-half beingshown in side elevation and one-half in central longitudinal sectionwith the unit in position on its shaft;

Fig. 2 represents the roller unit in end ele-' vation, the shaft beingshown in cross section and a portion of the fixed'collar being brokenaway- Fig 3 represents another form of my roller unit, one-half beingshown in side elevation and one-half in central longitudinal sec- .tionwith the unit in position on its shaft; and

self-adjusting or floating annular feed roller 4. The slidable collar 3carries an adjustable tension'm'eans acting on the fixed collarto clampthe feed roller between the collars with j thedesired degree offriction. U

The collars 2 and 3 may be interlocked to the shaft 1 against rotativemovement thereon by any desired means, as for instance by providing theshaft with a circumferential series of longitudinal splines 5 andintermedi aterecesses 6 adapted to engage corresponding longitudinalrecesses 7 and; teeth 8 along thed bores of the fixed and sli'dablecollars 2 an 3. 1' 1.1 a 7 The collar 2 maybe secured in its desired postion along the-shaft by means of a'set screw 9, the headof whichishoused withina recess 10. This fixedcolla'r is shownf-as presenting anextended frictional bearing surface a to one side of the annular feedroller 4.

The collar '3 which is slidable along the shaft 1 toward and awa y fromthe fix'edcolQ lar 2 also-presents-an extend-ed friotionalf bearingsurface to the opposite side of the; annular feed roller l. The slidablecollar 3 is provided with a plurality of bolts 11 '(three in thepresentinstance) which project from its inner face through the annular roller land holes 12 in thefixed collar 2 into recesses:

13 whereithe ends of, the said bolts are provided with tension adjustingnuts 14 threaded" thereon; coil springs 15 being interposed be tween thesaid nuts 14;and the bottoms of the said recesses 13 in the fixedcollar. 7 I

g In. the form shown in Figs.- 1 and 2 the bore of the se1f-adjustingannular'fe'ed roller 4 is somewhat larger than the outside diameter ofthe shaft 1 to permit the rollerto float or yield. In this form thetension bolts 11, carried by the slidable collar 3, extend through holes16in the feed roller, said holes being-somewhatlargerthan the diameterof the bolts to alsojpermit thefioating or yield ing of the roller undera greater or lesser: degree of friction between the collars, the rollerat'the same time beingprevented by said tension bolts from rotativemovement ;with re-' SPGCt'TtOitS shaft and collars. In this form theface of the self-adjusting roller 4 maybe cut away as shown at 17 toclear a projecting partv on the cylinder with which it coac ts."

Such projecting part may be a gripper 18 as illustrated in dotted lineson Fig. 2 of the drawing. 'Io properly balance the self-adjusting feedroller I provide a slot 19 in the roller diametrically opposite the cutaway portion 17.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the bore of the feed roller isenlarged to a point beyond the bolts 11 sufficiently to permit theroller to float or yield. This enlarged bore also permits rotativemovement of the roller with respect to its shaft and collars.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a feedroller unit which is extremely simple and which is readily adjustablenot only along its shaft but also as to its fricti onal effect onthefecd roller which is interposed between the fixed and slidablecollars of the unit.

It will also be seen that the tension means which acts upon the fixedcollar is carried by the slidable collar, the ends of the bolts, thetension springs and their adjusting nuts being all housed within thefixed collar, thereby eliminating projecting parts which would tendto'cause damage to any material which might come in contact with theunit.

It'will also be seen that the form illustrated in Figs. land 2 theboltsof the tension means serve also to prevent the rotative movement of thefeed roller without affect ing its floating or yielding movement.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in theconstruction, form and arrangement of the several'parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do notintend to be limited to the particular embodiments herein shown anddescribed, but

TWhat I claim is:

1. A feed roll shaft and a feed roller unit carried thereby comprising acollar fixed to the shaft, a collar slidable on the shaft, an interposedself-adjusting roller and tension means carried by the slidable collarand yieldingly engaging the fixed collar to frictionally clamp the feedroller between said collars, said tension means incuding boltsprojecting from the slidable collar into the fixed collar, tensionadjusting nuts threaded on said bolts and coil springs interposedbetween said nuts and fixed collar.

2. A feed roll shaft and a feed roller unit carried thereby comprising acollar fixed t0 the shaft, a collar slidable on the shaft, an interposedself-adjusting roller and tension means carried by the slidable collarand yieldingly engaging the fixed collar to frictionally clamp'the feedroller between said i collars, said tension means including boltsprojecting from the slidable collar into the fixed collar, tensionadjusting nuts threaded onsaid boltsand coil springs interposed be tweensaid nuts and fixed collar, said fixed collar having'recesses forhousing the projecting ends of said bolts, their nuts and said springs.

3. A feed roll shaft and a feed roller unit carried thereby comprising acollar fixed to the shaft, a collar slidable on the shaft, an interposedself-adjusting roller and tension means carried by the slidable collarand yieldingly engaging the fixed collar to frictionally clamp the feedroller between said collars, said tension means including boltsprojecting from the slidable collar into the fixed collar, tensionadjusting nuts threaded on said bolts and coil springs interposedbetween said nuts and fixed collar, said roller having enlarged holesfor the passage therethrough of the said tension bolts.

it. A feed roll shaft and a feed roller unit carried thereby comprisinga collar lfixed to the shaft, a collar slidable on the shaft, aninterposed self-adjusting roller and tension means carried by theslidable collar and yieldingly engaging the jfixed collar tofrictionally clamp'the' feed roller between said collars, said tensionmeans including bolts projecting from the slidable collar into the fixedcollar, tension adjusting nuts threaded on said bolts and coil springsinterposed between said nuts and fixed collar, said tension boltspassing through the bore of the said roller.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name this 15th day of December, A. D. 1931.

HOWARD M. BARBER.

